woman standing behind another woman helping her to juggle objects

Managing clients is a learned skill, it is not an innate skill.  Those who do it the best might even refer to managing clients and juggling responsibilities as a science, and they are not far off.  Whatever industry one finds themselves in, even in a non-professional setting, there is a general set of rules when it comes to managing clients and juggling responsibilities.  While there are bound to be differences with how individuals choose to go about it, the foundation of a job well down is rooted in much of the same.

Being good at communicating might be one of life’s most important skills, but what does “good communication” mean when it comes to managing clients or juggling responsibilities?  To start, use language that is simple and easy to understand, and which will make others feel more comfortable to engage with you if there is something they are unsure of.  It also means staying away from acronyms and other words that would only be understood by those with specialized backgrounds.  When it comes to the speed at which one’s speaks, the slower one speaks and the more controlled the tone of the voice, the better it is because it is easier for people to keep track of what is said, but it will also sound more appealing for listeners.  Adding pauses will also create a window for others to process information as well as giving them the chance to ask questions.  Even the most challenging of situations and the hardest of conversations will turn out better if a person sticks to speaking simply, speaking slowly, and with the right tone.

Money can buy everything except for trust, which is why the rewards for being able to transact in trust currency is so important.  What makes trust currency so unique is that trust can be earned in every situation, even in the worst of situations.  In fact, sometimes the worst of situations might offer the highest amount of trust currency to be earned, and earning trust comes down to being honest, even in situations where it might be counter to your interest.  One of the best ways to boost the amount of trust currency being earned is by being able to separate professional with unprofessional, and perhaps making as many parts of one’s life as professional as possible.

Although “professional” may sound gimmicky, being seen as professional will convey a sense of reliability, which is a synonym for trustworthiness.  Most adults rarely go to a 24/7 store between the hours of midnight and 6:00 AM.  However, if that store was to stop being open 24/7, it is almost guaranteed that the same adults would be quite annoyed because they can no longer count on it to be there for them.  This example illustrates just how important it is to be available as well as organized for your clients at all times, with customer service principles in mind.

All of it involves acting as if you were competing for their business.  So, not just being responsive but also being the quickest to respond.  Not just being available, but also being able to take a position on every situation.  Not just being a subject matter expert, but also being able to understand things outside your area of expertise.  Perhaps the best thing about managing clients and juggling responsibilities is that it is never too late to start improving on things like becoming a better communicator, transitioning from being unprofessional to professional, and a becoming a person people want to work with and be around.